. >> reporter: pope benedict delivered his final blessing to tens of thousands from his apartment overlooking saint peters square. between rounds of applause and emotional prayers -- >> i had some tears from my eyes. >> reporter: the holy father said he is not abandoning the church. he is retiring to spend his final years in prayer. the 85-year-old is stepping down on thursday. the first pope to do so in 600 years. >> you can feel it is something special among the people here. >> reporter: cardinals from around the world are arriving in rome to elect the next pope. what is normally a delicate transition has been interrupted by morale tkpwaeugs of scandal. >> italian media is reporting that the pope decided to resign after learning that a secret room of gay priests were being blackmailed. >> reporter: closed door vatican discussions about the allegations. the church calls the report false. >> it is focused on scandals in the church. again some, have been very, very real. nobody is denying them. the focus only goes to that we are deflected to what the church is supposed to be. >> reporter: the